A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Valleria, Alwina

by Alexis Chitty

VALLERIA, Alwina. Miss Alwina Valleria Lohmann was born Oct. 12, 1848, at Baltimore, U.S.A, studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London, the piano, with Mr. W. H. Holmes, and singing, as second study, with Mr. Wallworth, and in 1869 gained the Westmoreland Scholarship; received further instruction in singing from Arditi, and on June 2, 1871, made her first appearance in public, after which she was promptly engaged for Italian opera at St. Petersburg, where she made her first appearance on the stage Oct. 23 of the same year, as Linda di Chamouni. Her next engagements were in Germany and at La Scala, Milan. She was afterwards engaged at Her Majesty's Opera, Drury Lane, for two seasons, and made her first appearance May 3, 1873, as Marta. From 1877–78 she was engaged in Italian opera at the same house, and in 1879–82 at Covent Garden, undertaking with readiness and capacity a large number of parts, whether principal or subordinate—viz. Inez ('L'Africaine'), Leonora ('Trovatore'), Adalgisa, Donna Elvira, Susanna, Blonde ('Il Seraglio'), and Michaela on the production in England of 'Carmen' (June 22, 1878). For the seasons 1882 and 1883 she sang in English opera under Carl Rosa in the 'Flying Dutchman' and 'Tannhauser'; and on April 9, 1883, was mucu praised for her spirited performance of Colomba, on the production of Mackenzie's opera. She sang in oratorio for the first time on Dec. 26, 1882, at Manchester, in the 'Messiah,' and has since been very successful both in the Handel and Leeds Festivals of 1883. Mme. Valleria has also sung successfully in opera and concerts in America and elsewhere. Her voice extends from B♭ below the line to D in alt, is of considerable flexibility, fair power and volume, and pleasant quality. She is moreover an admirable actress. On Aug. 23, 1877, she married Mr. R. H. P. Hutchinson, of Husband's Bosworth, near Rugby. [App. p.806 "Add that she remained with the Carl Rosa company until 1886 inclusive, and created the principal parts on the production of 'Nadeschda' and 'The Troubadour.'"]

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